Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katsalova, on January 17th sentenced lawyers Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptzer and Igor Sergunin to prison on charges of “extremism”. They called on the Russian authorities to release him.
Their trial, held at the Petushki district court in the Vladimir region, was criticized as a sham.
“This week, on the International Day of Endangered Lawyers, the Russian government continues to retaliate against lawyers who have done their jobs,” Katsalova said.
She called for the immediate release of the three lawyers and the annulment of the sentences against them.
cooling effect
Katsalova said the sentences against Kobzev, Liptzer and Sergunin were a “chilling warning” to lawyers considering politically sensitive cases in Russia, adding that the charges were not considered legal under international law. He said there was no basis for it.
“The term ‘extremism’ has no basis in international law and constitutes a human rights violation when used to trigger criminal liability,” she said.
The trial was held behind closed doors, but about 50 people, including journalists and lawyers, were allowed into the courtroom when the verdict was handed down, according to a news release issued by the special rapporteur.
The other five people, including four journalists, appear to have been arbitrarily detained to prevent them from attending the hearing. They were later released.
“The persecution of lawyers and journalists is part of a worrying pattern of targeted repression and state control that is silencing independent media and the legal community across Russia,” Katsalova added.
escalating repression
The Special Rapporteur’s 2024 report to the UN Human Rights Council documented continued attacks on the legal profession in Russia.
“Lawyers have been jailed, prosecuted, disbarred and threatened just for doing their jobs,” Katsalova said.
In addition to the “widespread use” of vague legal definitions and unpredictable and often abusive interpretations, he said the closed trials were intended to force Russian authorities to suppress critics and prohibit anti-terrorism actions. He pointed out that counter-extremism, counter-terrorism, and national security laws can be misused and used as tools. War speeches, imprisoning legitimate political opponents, punishing and endangering their lawyers.
“This practice must end,” she added.
independent experts
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur was established by the Human Rights Council in October 2022 and subsequently extended.
Ms. Katsarova was appointed Special Rapporteur by the Board in April 2023 and assumed her post on May 1, 2023. She is not a United Nations employee, does not receive a salary, and works in her personal capacity, independent of the United Nations Secretariat. .
